Shreveport to Hochatown & Broken Bow: Drive Time, Route and Stops
Hochatown is about 160 miles from downtown Shreveport, about 3 hr of driving without traffic or stops. Broken Bow is 10 miles closer. From Shreveport you ride I-49 to Texarkana, then follow the Texarkana route north through southwest Arkansas. Interstate for the first half, two-lane US highway for the second.
The route from Shreveport
- Take I-49 north from Shreveport past Ida into Arkansas and on to Texarkana, about 70 miles.
- From Texarkana, take US-59/US-71 north through Ashdown and Lockesburg to De Queen, Arkansas.
- At De Queen, head west on US-70 across the Oklahoma line to Broken Bow.
- In Broken Bow, turn north on US-259 for the last 10 miles to Hochatown.
Towns you pass: Ida, Texarkana, Ashdown, Lockesburg, De Queen, Broken Bow.
Drive times are a range because two routing engines (OSRM and Valhalla, on OpenStreetMap roads) disagree on how fast the two-lane stretches go. Neither counts traffic, construction or stops. Computed 2026-09-29.
Where to stop for fuel and food
Texarkana is the natural break. After it, the route is US highway through small Arkansas towns.
What to pick up before the last stretch
Your route runs right through Broken Bow, the last stop with full grocery stores — Walmart Supercenter, Pruett's Food and DG Market — about 10 miles before Hochatown. There are no full grocery stores in Hochatown itself. Convenience stores and a market along US-259 carry basics, ice and firewood, but selection is limited and prices are higher.
- Groceries and drinks for the whole stay, plus ice.
- Firewood, if you plan a fire — check the McCurtain County burn ban first.
- Offline maps: download your route and the cabin's directions before you leave.
Cell service near the end of the drive
Cell coverage is spotty throughout Hochatown and the surrounding forest. T-Mobile and Verizon users may see a bar or two on the main road but lose signal at many cabins; AT&T is a little better in some spots. GPS keeps working, but don't count on live directions once you're deep in the forest: download the route and your cabin's directions before you leave Shreveport. Most cabins have Wi-Fi once you arrive.
EV fast charging on the way
DC fast chargers listed within two miles of this route by the Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center, as of 2026-09-29:
- Hosston, LA: 1 CCS/CHAdeMO port (ChargePoint) at TA Express
- Texarkana, TX: Tesla Supercharger (8 stalls), in town a short way off I-49
- Broken Bow, OK: 2 CCS fast-charging ports (EV Connect) at James Hodge Chevrolet, about 10 miles before Hochatown
Fast charging on this route is thin. The Texarkana Supercharger is the practical stop for Teslas; for other EVs, the single port at Hosston is the only fast charger listed within two miles of I-49, so plan to leave Shreveport full.
Several of the small-town sites are at car dealerships, so check the network's app for access before counting on one. For live station data near Hochatown, including Level 2 chargers, see the EV charging map.
When to leave Shreveport
The traffic that matters is the last few miles: cabin check-ins pile onto US-259 on Friday afternoon, and checkouts push it back out on Sunday. For Friday, Oct 2, our traffic model says arrive before 2:30 PM and avoid 3-7 PM. With the slower estimate of 3 hr 25 min from Shreveport, that means leaving by about 11:00 AM, earlier if you're stopping. Arriving Saturday instead? Aim for before 11 AM or after 8 PM. Heading home Sunday, leave Hochatown before 10 AM or after 4 PM; leaving by the early window puts you back in Shreveport around 1:30 PM.
| Day | Best arrival | Worst arrival | Best time to leave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | Before 2:30 PM | 3-7 PM | Before 11 AM (errands) or after 8 PM |
| Saturday | Before 11 AM or after 8 PM | 11 AM-1 PM and 5-7 PM | Before 10 AM or after 8 PM |
| Sunday | After 4 PM | 10 AM-3 PM | Before 10 AM or after 4 PM |
| Monday–Thursday | Most daytime hours | 4-6 PM near US-259 / 259A | Mid-morning or after the evening rush |
These are the model's typical weekly patterns, not live measurements. Before you set off, check Hochatown traffic today for incidents, ice or flooding on US-259 and the day's road score. The stretch to watch is US-259 between SH-259A North and SH-259A South.
US-259 Hochatown Boulevard project (US-259 between SH-259A North and SH-259A South): Two lanes are expected to remain open, but drivers may see delays and congestion during peak tourist seasons. Source: Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
Flying instead?
Texarkana Regional (TXK) is about 90 miles from Hochatown, 1 hr 40 min–2 hr 10 min by car. Shreveport Regional (SHV) is about 170 miles from Hochatown, 2 hr 55 min–3 hr 35 min by car. The closest commercial airport to Hochatown is Texarkana Regional (TXK) at about 90 miles. Whichever you choose, the trip ends with a drive, so plan on a car. See all nearby airports and drive times.
Know before you hit US-259
The free Discover Hochatown app for iPhone shows live US-259 road conditions and the day's best drive windows. Turn on Road conditions and it notifies you about reported closures or accidents around Hochatown, or ice, snow or flooding on US-259 — handy on the drive in.
Download on the App Store About the appShreveport to Hochatown: questions
How far is Hochatown from Shreveport?
Hochatown is about 160 miles from downtown Shreveport, about 3 hr of driving (2 hr 45 min–3 hr 25 min depending on the routing) without traffic or stops.
How far is Broken Bow from Shreveport?
Broken Bow is about 150 miles from Shreveport, about 2 hr 45 min without traffic or stops. Hochatown is another 10 miles north on US-259.
What's the best route from Shreveport to Hochatown?
I-49 to Texarkana, US-59/US-71 to De Queen, then US-70 west and US-259.
Where should I stop between Shreveport and Hochatown?
The practical fuel and food stops are Texarkana (about 70 miles in); and De Queen, AR (about 130 miles). Texarkana is the natural break. After it, the route is US highway through small Arkansas towns. Do your grocery run in Broken Bow; Hochatown has no full grocery store.
What time should I leave Shreveport on a Friday?
Our traffic model says arrive in Hochatown before 2:30 PM on Friday and avoid 3-7 PM, when cabin check-ins stack up on US-259. Using the slower drive estimate, that means leaving Shreveport by about 11:00 AM, earlier if you plan to stop.
What's the nearest airport if I fly instead of driving from Shreveport?
The closest commercial airport to Hochatown is Texarkana Regional (TXK) in Texarkana, AR, about 90 miles away. From TXK it's about 90 miles and from SHV it's about 170 miles by road. Every option ends with a drive, so plan on a car.
Driving from somewhere else?
Dallas · Fort Worth · Oklahoma City · Tulsa · Texarkana · Houston · All drive times & airports